Electrically-operated switch.



. T. VARNEY & H. L. EACH, ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 19H.

Patented J an. -1, 1918;

VENTORS ZZZJZZ mum WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE VARNEY, OF PITTSBURGH, AND HOWARD L. BEACH, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN SYLVANIA:

ELEOTRICALLY-OPERATED SWITCH.

Application filed June 28, 1911.

and HOWARD L. BEACH, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively,

of Pittsburgh and Edgewood Park, both in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrically-Operated Switches, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to switches for electric circuits and particularly to such electrically operated switches as are adapted for use with alternating current circuits.

The object of our invention is to provide a switch of the class above indicated that shall be relatively simple and durable in construction, positive in operation an'd capable of interrupting electric circuits under adverse conditions.

A further object of our invention is to provide a specially advantageous supporting means for switches of this character by which the necessity for heavy and expensive switch-board panels is avoided.

In control systems of the so-called unit switch type comprising a plurality of independently operated switches, the switches have usually been mounted upon a switchboard plate or panel of slate, marble or similar material.

When switches are utilized for interrupting very heavy currents they are relatively large and heavy and, when mounted on a switch-board panel, as above indicated, the panel itself is necessarily thick and eX- tremely heavy in order to provide the requisite supporting strength. This is particularly true when the switches are adapted for alternating current circuits, since alternatin current circuit switches are considerably arger and heavier than direct current switches of the same current capacity.

According to our present invention, we

provide a frame work of structural steel,'or

iron piping, havingcross members to which the ends of a series of independently supported vertical bars or rods are secured. Each of the rods or bars is provided with an insulated wrapping or covering and forms a part of the electrically operated switch which it supports. By this means, the switches may be removed and replaced at any time, or their position may be ad- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 1, 1918.

Serial No. 635,905.

i justed with a minimum amount of trouble and expense, while the supporting structure may be very much stronger than a switchboard panel, although its weight is crimparatively slight.

F'gures' 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings are, respectively, a side and 'a front elevation of an electrically operated switch constructed and supported in accordance with our invention.

Referring to the drawings, the switch here shown comprises a vertical. rod or bar 1 having an insulating sleeve 2, a stationary contact member 3, a supporting post at therefor, a U-shaped stationary core member 5, a coil 6, a movable core member 7, a movable contact member 8, a U-shaped blow-out magnet 9, a blow-out magnet coil 10 and an arc chute 11. The rod or bar 1 is secured to a pair of parallel supporting members 12. and 13 by means oi J bolts 14 and 15 and the parts t, 5 and ,9 are independently secured to and are insulated from the rod or bar 1, by means of clamping members 16, 1'7 and 18 and bolts 19. It thus appears that the roder bar 1 not only constitutes a support for the switch, but also forms a part of it since various independent members of the switch are assembled thereon.

The stationary U-shaped core member 5 is composed of a series of plates or laminae the outer plates or laminae being of material thickness and provided with flanges 20 in order to constitute a suitable means by I which the member may be supported. The outer plates or laminae extendoutwardly materially beyond the body of the core to constitute supports 21 for the movable core member 7 which is located between them and is pivotally mounted on a pin 22 in a position to cooperate with the stationary member.

The movable contact member 8 is pivotally mounted upon a pin'23 in the upper end of the core member 7 and is electrically connected to the outer plates of the U-shaped core member 5 by means of conductors .25, the said plates being thus utilized as parts of the electric circuit which is completed from the terminal 24 at the outer ends of two of the bolts 19, to the movable contact member 8.

A constant pressure is maintained between the contact members 3 and 8, when the switch is closed, by means of a spring 26 that surrounds a rod %7 and is interposed between the movable contact member 8 and a block 28, which is pivotally supported be- 5 tween end plates 29 of the movable core member 7. The upper end of the rod 27 is pivotally secured to the movable contact member 8 and its lower end projects loosely through a hole 30 in the block 28, an enlargement 31 being provided below the block to limit the rotative movement of the contact member that is produced by the spring as the switch is opened. The blow-out magnet 9 comprises a pair of parallel fiat arms which extend outwardly from a cylindrical body member 32 on which the coil 10 is mounted, and the are chute 11 is supported between the arms of the blow-out magnet coil around and above the contact members 3 and 8. V v

The lower end of the core member 7 extends somewhat below the pivot pin 22 and is secured to the outer end of a spring 33, the inner'end of which is fixed to aspring bracket 34. The spring is under tension the switch shown may be considerably changed. within the spirit and scope of our invention and we desire that only such limitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. The combination with a supporting member, of a member substantially transverse to said supporting member and adjustably secured thereto, and a plurality of cooperating switch parts independently and adjustably secured to said transverse member and insulated therefrom.

2. The combination with a plurality o substantially parallel supporting members, oi a rod or bar extending substantially transverse to said members and adjustably secured thereto, and a plurality of cooperating switch parts independently and adjustably mounted upon said transverse member and insulated t11erefr0m.-

3. A switch board structure cmnprising a plurality of spaced and parallel supporting members, a switch-carrying member associated therewith and longitudinally adjustable with respect thereto, cooperating sta tionary and movable switch members independently and adjustably mounted upon said switch-carryingmember, and means for insulating said switch members from said switch-carrying member.

Inv testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 20th day of J une,

THEODORE VAR'NEY. HOWARD L. BEACH. Witnesses:

B. B. HINns, M. CLARA Mnnz. 

